The main language is spoken in Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza) is Palestinian Arabic which is a dialect of Standard Modern Arabic (Classical Arabic). There is not a huge difference between the dialects of Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinian Arabic is included in a subgroup of dialects known as Levantine Arabic. Arabs who live in the Levant countries, or originate from them – the eastern Mediterranean countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine – speak Levantine Arabic, which is also known as shaami Arabic.
The Classical Arabic language in Palestine
The Classical Arabic language, known as fusHa, is recognized as the official language of government use, in areas such as Courts, Parliament, administrative agencies in Palestine, as well as a legal business. FusHa is used in all administrative agencies of the Palestinian Authority within Palestine. It is also most importantly the language of the Koran.
Hebrew Language in the West Bank
Because of the presence of six hundred thousand Jewish settlers who live in the Palestinian territories, Hebrew has become more common; however, only a few Palestinians are able to speak Hebrew.
This may be as a result of their employment as traders and workers within the Israeli economic markets, such as companies and factories.
Do Palestinians speak English?
Although English is considered the second language of Palestine, not all people – including many Palestinians – can speak it fluently. In some cities, such as Ramallah, Jerusalem, Hebron, or Bethlehem, you will find more people speaking conversational English, while in other cities, people may speak only a very rudimentary English, learned during their time in school.
When do Palestinian students start to learn English at local schools?
The English language is taught by all Palestinian local schools starting from the first grade through high school. Moreover, most Palestinian universitiesโ curriculums are written and taught in English, especially scientific disciplines such as Medicine and Engineering.
Final Remarks
In Palestine, there are private international and local institutions that teach English, such as the British Council, Amideast and, of course, The Excellence Center. Other languages such as Hebrew, Turkish, and German are also taught by private language schools and organizations.
You may find French, Russian, Italian, and other languages spoken as well, because Palestine is a destination for numerous international travelers.
